DOM Tubing vs CDS Tubing: Which is Right for Your Application?

It is often questioned that Drawn Over Mandrel Tubing and Cold Drawn Seamless Tubing truly differ in performance. Both Cold Drawn Seamless Tubing and DOM Tubing achieve exceptionally tight tolerances, which translates into highly accurate dimensions. Yet one standout contrast remains, i.e., DOM Tubing is produced from welded material, while CDS Tubing is created without any seam. In this blog, we will discuss an in-depth comparison of each tubing type.

Drawn Over Mandrel Tubing (DOM Tubing)

Drawn Over Mandrel Tubing (DOM) is a cold drawn ST52/1026 electric resistance welded tube where all flash is removed before the cold drawing process. Compared to traditional electric welded tubing, DOM tubing is manufactured to extremely tight outside diameter (OD) and inside diameter (ID) tolerances. This tubing is also recognized for having the highest possible weld strength. The tight tolerances, excellent concentricity, and superior surface finish on the OD and ID surfaces make DOM tubing very cost-effective. Because of these precise tolerances, this mechanical tubing can often be used with little to no downstream processing.

DOM Tubing Manufacturing Process

The process starts with a large coil of steel that is cut into strips, with widths tailored to the desired tube size. These strips are cold formed and passed through an electric resistance welder, which fuses the edges to form a tube shape. Afterwards, the tube is cleaned, annealed, and drawn through one or more dies and over a mandrel. This drawing step removes the weld seam from the inside diameter, resulting in a smooth and clean interior finish.

Benefits of Drawn Over Mandrel Tubing

Drawn Over Mandrel Tubing (DOM) offers several key benefits driven by its tight tolerances, concentricity, and superior surface quality on both the outside diameter (OD) and inside diameter (ID), making it a cost-effective choice. Due to its close tolerances, this mechanical tubing requires little to no downstream processing, saving time and expense.

• Cost-Effectiveness: DOM’s precision means it can be used for mechanical parts with minimal or no additional processing, reducing material waste, labor, and rework costs.
• Strength: Cold drawing imparts high yield and tensile strength to DOM tubing. Made from high-quality steel, it resists heavy loads, bending, and torsional forces without deforming or breaking.
• Uniformity and Precision: This tubing boasts uniform wall thickness, concentricity, and mechanical properties. It maintains close OD and ID tolerances, uniform grain structure, and controlled hardness, ensuring precise dimensions.
• Appearance: The OD and ID surfaces of DOM are smooth and clean, free from oxide or scale, with no traces of welding.
• Close Tolerances: DOM achieves exceptionally close dimensional tolerances in OD, ID, and wall thickness.
• Surface Quality: The tubing surfaces are dense and smooth, enhancing quality and performance.
• Machinability: DOM material machines easily, requiring only a nominal stock allowance for finishing, making it cost-efficient during manufacturing.
• Wide Size Range: A broad range of OD and wall thicknesses can be produced by adjusting the size of dies and mandrels used in the process.

Cold Drawn Seamless Mechanical Tubing (CDS Tubing)

Cold Drawn Seamless Tubing (CDS) is made from cold drawn ST52/1026/4140 steel, originating from hot rolled material. The cold drawing process enhances the physical properties of the material and achieves tighter tolerances than what hot-rolled products provide. CDS Tubing starts with hot solid round billets that are pierced to form a tube. These tubes are then rolled, which reduces their diameter and elongates them. After a slow cooling process, the tubes are drawn through a die and over a mandrel plug to ensure precise dimensional accuracy.

CDS Tubing Manufacturing Process

Starting with hot solid round billets, CDS Tubing is formed by piercing them to create hollow tubes. These tubes undergo rolling, which reduces their diameter and increases their length. Following a slow cooling process, the tubes are then passed through a die and over a mandrel plug to ensure their dimensions are accurate and precise.Drawn Over Mandrel Tubing (DOM), Cold Drawn Seamless Tubing (CDS), DOM Tubing, Cold Drawn Seamless Mechanical Tubing, and CDS Tubing keyword requirements are noted for paraphrasing and content writing to maintain original meaning, intent, and length with a human-like writing style using both active and passive voice. Ready to paraphrase provided content fold by fold on demand.

Benefits of Cold Drawn Seamless

The CDS manufacturing process grants this tubing improved physical properties, precise size accuracy, and an enhanced appearance. Although CDS tubing usually does not have as tight tolerances as DOM tubing, it can be produced with much thicker walls.

• Higher Strength & Hardness: Cold drawing increases the strength of the tube, making it ideal for safety- and performance-critical applications.
• Size Accuracy: The manufacturing process allows for close dimensional tolerances, ensuring consistent diameter and wall thickness throughout the tube.
• Enhanced Appearance: Cold drawn seamless tubes often have a shinier surface and no weld lines, enhancing the aesthetic appeal of finished products.
• Uniform Micro-Structure: CDS tubing benefits from uniform and consistent micro-structure as a result of the cold drawing process.
• Easier to Machine: Superior strength and hardness contribute to better machining results and a more attractive final component.
• Superior Finish After Processing: The glossy, seamless finish of cold drawn tubes produces better outcomes in treatments such as dipping, etching, and anodizing.

Applications of Drawn Over Mandrel and Cold Drawn Seamless Tubing

In a wide range of sectors, tubing that combines precision and strength plays a vital role in keeping equipment running smoothly and safely. Both DOM Tubing and CDS Tubing are favored for applications where tight tolerances, superior surface finish, and mechanical reliability are essential.

• Construction & Heavy Equipment: Augers, chassis components, crane boom lacings, hydraulic cylinders, handrails, shafts, struts, and transmission shafts rely on tubing capable of withstanding heavy loads and dynamic forces.
• Infrastructure: Columns, railings, and lift components demand materials with consistent dimensional accuracy and excellent surface quality.
• Fluid Handling: Engine assemblies, pumps, and other high-speed liquid flow components require tubing with smooth internal surfaces and precise diameters.
• General Machinery: Internal machine parts, hydraulic components, frames, industrial lift components, pumps, and tool extensions are manufactured using tubing that offers uniform wall thickness and high strength.
• Oil & Gas: Pumps, barrels, plungers, bearing races, and spacers in oilfield equipment depend on tubing with superior weld strength and fatigue resistance.
• Energy: Solar panel brackets, wastewater treatment piping, wind turbine components, and tubing used in nuclear, wind, solar, gas, and coal plants must meet stringent standards for pressure and corrosion resistance.
• General Fabrication & Machining: Custom supports, telescoping mechanisms, and rolls for paper, textile, and steel mills are produced with tubing tailored to specific size and finish requirements.
• Automotive & Transportation: Axles, engine assemblies, roll cages, camshaft tubes, chassis parts, gas springs, headers, headrests, pillars, seat frames, drive shafts, shock absorbers, steering components, and struts utilize tubing that combines fatigue resistance with precise tolerances.

Make the Right Choice for Your Application

Partnering with USA Piping Solution ensures you receive expert guidance on selecting the ideal tubing, whether you require the exceptional strength and precision of Drawn Over Mandrel Tubing (DOM Tubing) or the robust, seamless design of Cold Drawn Seamless Tubing (CDS Tubing). Our team leverages deep industry experience in DOM Tubing and Cold Drawn Seamless Mechanical Tubing to tailor solutions that meet your exact OD, ID, and wall thickness requirements while minimizing downstream processing. Trust USA Piping Solution to deliver high-quality, cost-effective tubing, backed by comprehensive support from material selection through final inspection for superior performance in every application.